Impeller assembly

ABSTRACT

An impeller assembly is revealed. The impeller assembly includes a base arranged with at least one impeller. The base has a flow guide surface disposed with at least one mount location set thereof. The mount location set is composed of a plurality of locking slots and a mounting region while each locking slot connects the mounting region with the flow guide surface. The impeller includes a mounting part mounted into the mounting region of the base and a plurality of blades is arranged around the mounting part. A reinforcing piece is disposed between the inner edge of the blade and the mounting part for connection, and is mounted into the locking slot correspondingly. By such design, the structural strength of the weak region between the mounting part and the blade is increased and this favors precise location and assembly of the impeller with the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The present invention relates to an impeller assembly, especially to an impeller assembly produced by an assembly way and having a reinforcement structure of weak regions as well as a locating member for precise location and assembling of components of the impeller assembly.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

Refer to US Pat, App. No. 2008/015986, the impeller assembly includes an impeller and at least one ring member. The ring member is provided into the breaches of the rear edges of the blades of the impeller. Due to the breach of the rear edge of the blade of the impeller, a structural weakness is formed and a weak zone is located thereof. Or the ring member is unable to be disposed into a deeper position of the blade because the larger breach makes the structural weakness more obvious.

Refer to US Pat, App. No. 2002/0085935, the fan is also manufactured by an assembling way so that the problem of residual material left on the mold during demolding can be overcome. Yet refer to FIG. 1 and claim 1 of this patent application, an axial flow fan that is a round block and a plurality of blades are secured to a dome surface of an eccentric fan. The blade and the round block of the axial flow fan are connected with each other only by a blade root so that the component is quite weak, easy to be deformed and difficult to be located.

Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,395, a vane component is used with respect to a stator to form an impeller and the vane component is fixed on top of the stator deeply so that no interference problem arises during demolding processes. Moreover, the surface area of the vane component can be increased. But the vane component is weak, easy to be deformed, difficult to be located precisely and unable to generate a smooth flow guide surface because vanes of the vane components are fitted into a cylindrical component by projections (partial vane roots). Or in order to reinforce the vane component, the connection part of the vane roots with the cylindrical component is increased. This even causes generation of an eccentric flow that further results in a turbulent flow field and the efficiency of the impeller assembly is reduced.

Moreover, refer to a prior art of Chinese Pat, No. ZL1268180.6 shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a cooling fan assembly 2 is formed by a locking strip 211 and a locating pin 212 of an upper fan part 21 being assembled with and mounted into a corresponding locking slot 221 and a locating hole 222 on a lower fan part 22. Thus the upper fan part 21 and the lower fan part 22 are fixed and assembled with each other. And a rear edge of an upper blade 213 of the upper fan part 21 is corresponding to a front edge of a lower blade 223 of the lower fan part 22 to that the edges of the two blades form a surface that has a continuous curvature.

However, the upper blade 213 of the upper fan part 21 is connected with a flat central ring 214 only by a slight root region so that a weak region is generated on the slight root region. The locking strip 211 with similar thickness of the blade is only arranged along the edge of the upper blade, without a reinforcing effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an impeller assembly in which the structural strength of parts, such as an impeller and a base, is improved and the parts are not easily deformed. Moreover, the impeller assembly can be located and assembled easily and precisely so as to overcome shortcomings of cooling fan assemblies mentioned above.

In order to achieve above objects, an impeller assembly of the present invention includes a base and at least one impeller disposed on the base. The base consists of a flow guide surface and at least one mount location set arranged at the flow guide surface. The mount location set is composed of a plurality of locking slots and a mounting region. Each locking slot connects the mounting region with the flow guide surface. The impeller includes a mounting part mounted into the mounting region of the base and a plurality of blades is arranged circularly around a periphery of the mounting part. A region among the two adjacent blades and the base forms an air channel. A reinforcing piece is disposed between the inner edge of the blade and the periphery of the mounting part for connection. Moreover, the reinforcing piece is mounted into the locking slot correspondingly.

The structural design features on that: the structural strength of the weak region between the mounting part and the blade is increased by the reinforcing piece. Moreover, this favors the location and tight assembly of the impeller with the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an explosive view of an embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of another embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explosive view of a further embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explosive view of a further embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explosive view of a further embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an assembled cross sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explosive view of a further embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an assembled cross sectional view of the embodiment in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an explosive view of a further embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explosive view of a prior art of a cooling fan;

FIG. 12 is an assembled view of the prior art in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of an impeller assembly according to the present invention is revealed. The impeller assembly 1 includes a base 11 and an impeller 12.

The base 11 includes a flow guide surface 111 on an outer side thereof. A cross sectional line of the flow guide surface 111 can be a straight line or a curve. By change of a rear edge 1222 of a blade 122 of the impeller 12 covered over the flow guide surface 111, the air flow through the impeller assembly 1 is a sideward flow or a side flow. A mount location set 112 is disposed on the base 11. The mount location set 112 consists of a plurality of concave locking slots 1121 and a mounting region 1122. In this embodiment, the mounting region 1122 is a circular hole on the center of the base 11 and each locking slot 1121 connects the mounting region 1122 with the flow guide surface 111.

The impeller 12 includes a mounting part 121 in the center thereof. In this embodiment, the mounting part 121 is a ring. A plurality of blades 122 is arranged circularly around a periphery 1211 of the mounting part 121 and is corresponding to the locking slots 1121 of the base 11. The blade 122 includes a front edge 1221 which is an air inlet end and the rear edge 1222. A region between an inner edge 1223 of the blade 122 and the periphery 1211 of the mounting part 121 is arranged with a reinforcing piece 123 that connects the mounting part 121 and the blade 122.

While assembling the base 11 and the impeller 12 correspondingly, the mounting part 121 is mounted into the mounting region 1122 and the reinforcing piece 123 is locked into the corresponding locking slot 1121. The inner edge 1223 of the blade 122 is corresponding to the flow guide surface 111 of the base 11 and their shapes are matched. A region among the two adjacent blades 122 and the base 11 is an air channel 124.

Moreover, a flange 113 is disposed on an inner surface of the bottom of the base 11 so as to provide axial thrust and location effects.

Refer to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the impeller assembly is disclosed. The difference between this embodiment and above one is in that: the mounting part 121 of the impeller 12 includes a top surface 1212 in which a shaft 1213 is disposed on a center of a bottom side thereof for connection with a mechanism that transmits the rotation of the impeller assembly 1.

Refer to FIG. 4, a further embodiment of the impeller assembly is shown. The difference between this embodiment and the impeller assembly 1 of the first embodiment is in that: a housing 114 is disposed on a center of the mounting region 1122 of the base 11. A shaft 115 is arranged at a center of an inner surface of the housing 114 for connection with a mechanism that transmits the rotation of the impeller assembly 1 and the mount location set 112 is located outside the housing 114. Furthermore, the mounting part 121 of the impeller 12 can be with or without a top surface 1212. The top surface 1212 is a flat surface, a curved surface. Moreover, the base 11 is further disposed with at least one lower blade (not shown in figure). The rear edge 1222 of a blade 122 of the impeller 12 together with a front edge of the corresponding lower blade of the base 11 form a blade whose surface has a continuous curvature. Or the blade 122 of the impeller 12 and the lower blade of the base 11 are arranged in a staggered manner. The shorter lower blade of the base 11 is located on a rear end of the air channel 124 formed among the two adjacent blades 122 of the impeller 12 and the flow guide surface 111.

As shown in FIG. 5, a further embodiment of the impeller assembly is revealed. The difference between this embodiment of the impeller assembly 1 and the above one is in that: a base 11 includes an upper and a lower mount location sets 112, respectively locked and fixed with corresponding upper and lower impellers 12 a, 12 b. After being assembled, a region among the two adjacent upper blades 122 a of the upper impeller 12 a and a flow guide surface 111 of the base 11 forms an air channel 124 while a lower blade 122 b of the lower impeller 12 b is located on a rear end of the air channel 124.

Refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a further embodiment of the impeller assembly is disclosed. The difference between this embodiment of the impeller assembly 1 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is in that: a housing 114 a of this embodiment is formed on the bottom of the mount location set 112 of the base 11. A mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the impeller assembly 1 is mounted inside the housing 114 a. Moreover, the base 11 is further disposed with at least one lower blade (not shown in figure). The rear edge 1222 of a blade 122 of the impeller 12 together with a front edge of the corresponding lower blade of the base 11 form a blade whose surface has a continuous curvature. Or the blade 122 of the impeller 12 and the lower blade of the base 11 are arranged in a staggered manner. The shorter lower blade of the base 11 is located on a rear end of the air channel 124 formed among the two adjacent blades 122 of the impeller 12 and the flow guide surface 111.

The cross sectional line of the flow guide surface 111 of the above embodiments can be a straight line, a curve or their combinations.

Refer to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the cross sectional line of the flow guide surface 111 of the base 11 is a curve or a straight line. The area of the flow guide surface 111 is corresponding to a region that covers the inner edge 1223 and the rear edge 1222 of the blade 122 so as to make air flow field become a radial flow and the air flowing out is a side flow.

Refer to FIG. 10, a further embodiment of the present invention is revealed. An outer end of a blade 122 of the impeller 12 is connected with an air outlet end of a space of a frame 13. The impeller 12 is having at least one non-rotating stationary blade and is assembled with the base 11 thereunder. Moreover, there is another impeller 14 arranged over the impeller 12. The impeller 14 includes a housing 141 whose periphery is disposed with a plurality of blades 142. The angle of attack of the blade 142 and that of the blade 122 are disposed opposite to each other. Furthermore, a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the impeller assembly 1 is mounted in the housing 141 of another impeller 14.

In summary, the features of the design of the present invention are as followings:

1. The inner edge of the upper blade of the impeller is connected with the periphery of the ring by a reinforcing piece so as to increase the structural strength of the impeller and prevent deformation of the impeller during and after the injection. 2. Besides the prevention of the deformation of the impeller, the matching of the reinforcing piece with the locking slot makes precise location and assembly of the impeller become much easier.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. An impeller assembly comprising: a base having a flow guide surface and being disposed with at least one mount location set; wherein the mount location set includes a plurality of locking slots and a mounting region while each locking slot connects the mounting region with the flow guide surface; and at least one impeller having a mounting part in a center thereof to be mounted in the mounting region of the base correspondingly and a plurality of blades arranged around a periphery of the mounting part and corresponding to each locking slot of the base; wherein the blade includes a front edge that is an air inlet end and a rear edge while a region between an inner edge of the blade and the periphery of the mounting part is arranged with a reinforcing piece; the reinforcing piece connects the mounting part and the inner edge of the blade and being mounted in the locking slot of the base correspondingly; a region among the two adjacent blades and the flow guide surface of the base forms an air channel.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area of the flow guide surface is corresponding to a region that covers the inner edge and the rear edge of the blade so as to make air out of the impeller assembly become a side flow.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes an upper and a lower mount location sets, respectively locked and fixed with corresponding upper and lower impellers; the impellers respectively include at least one blade while the blade of the lower impeller is located on a rear end of an air channel formed among the two adjacent blades of the upper impeller and the flow guide surface of the base.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting part of the impeller includes a top surface in which a shaft is disposed on a center of a bottom side thereof for connection with a mechanism that transmits the rotation of the impeller assembly.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base includes a housing and a shaft is arranged at a center of an inner surface of the housing for connection with a mechanism that transmits the rotation of the impeller assembly.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is located on a center of the mounting region and the mount location set is set outside the housing.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is further disposed with at least one lower blade and the rear edge of the blade of the impeller together with a front edge of the lower blade of the base form a blade whose surface has a continuous curvature.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is further disposed with at least one lower blade and the lower blade of the base is located on a rear end of an air channel formed among the two adjacent blades of the impeller and the flow guide surface.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mount location set of the base is located over the housing.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base is further disposed with at least one lower blade and the rear edge of the blade of the impeller together with a front edge of the lower blade of the base form a blade whose surface has a continuous curvature.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base is further disposed with at least one lower blade and the lower blade of the base is located on a rear end of an air channel formed among the two adjacent blades of the impeller and the flow guide surface.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer end of the blade of the impeller is connected with an air outlet end of a space of a frame so that the impeller is non-rotating and another impeller that includes a housing and a periphery disposed with a plurality of blades is arranged over the non-rotating impeller; an angle of attack of the blade of the impeller above and that of the blade of the non-rotating impeller are disposed opposite to each other; a mechanism for transmitting rotation of the impeller assembly is mounted in the housing of the impeller above. 